Well, I have arrived in Puerto Banus and the sun is shining..!
Early start up at 0415 and my cab booked for 0500 and some of you thought you had an early start for placement! Once at Heathrow met with my fellow student to find that as the Spanish had booked our tickets using our forenames and middle names we had to get tickets reissued…! This appeared an extraordinarily complex process on the computers, so some 45 minutes later we were escorted to the ‘Additional needs desk’ to check in – is this where the OT begins..?!!
Slightly bumpy flight, but did you know you get fed on BA flights – a luxury compared to my usual travels with a certain orange airline..! Arrival in Malaga was straight forward enough with the usual passport control etc. Next challenge and time to drag up the Spanish I have not used for 20 years or so…! Getting a cab was easy and I even managed to explain where we were going uno – Benalmadena y uno Puerto Banus…! Getting/negotiating the price slightly more tricky..! Once in Benalmadena (where Jasbir is based) found Sanyres without too much problem, this was where we parted company for now… slightly nervously we bid adios to one another.
My Spanish so far was doing ok until the cab driver tried engaging me in conversation – EEEKKK!! No comprende (do not understand) came in useful here… He kept telling me autopista..?? Could not figure it out then eventually the penny dropped – motorway! A scenic drive later (about an hour) we arrive in Puerto Banus which is where I discover the cab driver actually has no idea where in PB Sanyres, or the street it is on is..!! So, we were sign spotting, suddenly ‘acqui’ (here) I yell from the back at which point he drives further down the road and then stops, saying back there (or at least I think that was what he said) as it was a one way street he dropped me off! I bid farewell to my friendly Spanish cab driver who was really sweet and walked off to find where I was supposed to be. I spotted an older gentleman in a wheelchair and figured I must be close, so followed him..! Once inside I attempted to explain who I was in Spanish (soon gave up and resorted to English!). Very briefly met my supervisor and the manager who has hence shown me my apartment told me when & where lunch and dinner are and pointed the way to the beach – what more do I need! I have the rest of today off and am planning on going for a walk/explore soon. Need to be at work at 0800 tomorrow, so now I am here I need to concentrate my thoughts and efforts on why I am here, (but first a wander to the beach I think!)
I got to meet a few of the staff at lunch who all appear v friendly and welcoming, introducing me to their colleagues – now have name blindness (can’t remember who is who!)
I do not have internet access in my apartment however will endeavour to sus it out asap in and around Puerto Banus with internet cafes or access via work at Sanyres…
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